Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not return calls from Vice President Kamala Harris about storm recovery a week after Hurricane Helen hit parts of his state.
A source familiar with the situation said he avoids the Democratic presidential nominee’s calls because they “seem political.”
“Kamala tried to get in touch and we didn’t answer,” a DeSantis aide told NBC News.
The same person said “I don’t know” when asked if DeSantis had spoken to President Joe Biden.
Last week, DeSantis said Biden called him, but he was flying at the time and was unable to pick up the call. Biden was there In North Florida DeSantis held a news conference last week to survey the storm damage, but was already scheduled in another part of the state, so they didn’t meet. A source familiar with the planning said the Biden team invited DeSantis to the event in North Florida.
DeSantis has been in direct contact with Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, DeSantis said refused He declined Harris’ invitation.
“I didn’t know she called,” he said. “I don’t know who they called. They didn’t call me. Their character is something they did. There’s nothing anyone in my office has done to say it’s political.”
Asked by NBC News Monday afternoon if politics was infiltrating the hurricane response, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said, “That would really have to speak to the governor, wouldn’t it?”
He said the White House invited DeSantis to survey the storm damage with Biden.
“It is his decision … to attend or not to attend with the President. … It is up to him,” he added. “In the Biden-Harris administration, we’re doing our part — obviously the FEMA job — is on the ground, all hands, the whole government, a strong approach here. So, again, it’s for Gov. DeSantis. Speak up.”
Later, Harris also addressed the statement, “Crisis moments, if nothing else, should be the moment when anyone who calls themselves a leader says they’re going to put politics aside and put the people first. The people. Playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations requires support now, these are the height of emergency situations, It is completely irresponsible and selfish.
Hurricane Helen made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 27, devastating some of the state’s rural North Florida counties and destroying cities along the Gulf Coast with storm surge. Many of those cities, including the densely populated Tampa area, are still dealing with significant flood damage and debris removal.
After the landfall, Helen’s remnants continued a path through the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and swamping the region, including historic flooding in western North Carolina.
In the immediate aftermath of Helen, DeSantis saidWe have dealt with it” indicates that storm cleanup and the federal government should focus on North Carolina.
Other governors offered more praise for the federal response, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp saying he had spoken with Biden. He thanked him for his helpand South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, also a Republican, “Super.”
When he spoke dubbing Operation Blue RidgeDeSantis sent Florida resources to North Carolina, including members of the Florida National Guard and officials from several state agencies.
Over the weekend, DeSantis said those properties are now returning to Florida as the state anticipates landfall midway through Hurricane Milton, a major storm that is expected to affect large swathes of the state, including coastal cities flooded by Hurricane Helen.
The storm is expected to make landfall on the central part of Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
Two other officials in DeSantis’ office said there had been no attempt so far by Biden to contact the governor about Hurricane Milton.
Former President Donald Trump spoke at length about Hurricane Helen, sometimes in overtly political terms — including pushing misinformation. At one point he said on social media that a photo Harris posted on social media was getting a stormy description.fake and level.”
Trump traveled to Georgia after the storm and appeared at an event with Kemp. He too Launched GoFundMe Aid to organizations doing relief work in the region.